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Muppets are still most wanted in wacky, charming sequel

It's tougher than ever being green. The put-upon Kermit the Frog has an evil doppelganger in Muppets Most Wanted (*** out of four; rated PG; opening Friday nationwide), a breezy, mirthful caper enlivened

Kermit the Frog has an evil doppelganger in Muppets Most Wanted (* * * out of four; rated PG; opening Friday nationwide), a breezy, mirthful caper enlivened by the comic talents of Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell and Tina Fey.

The Muppets' winning style of self-referential, pun-filled, fast-paced comedy ventures further afield as the duplicitous Dominic (Gervais) persuades the colorful crew to go on a European tour, performing in some of the grandest theaters. The world's most famous puppets are wildly enthusiastic. Kermit (voiced by Steve Whitmire) hesitates. Worrying that they need more rehearsal time, the levelheaded frog is the lone naysayer. Dazzled by global stardom, the other Muppets drown out Kermit's objections.

Once they arrive overseas, Kermit is replaced by his evil twin. The Slavic-accented Constantine, "the world's No. 1 criminal," has escaped from a Siberian labor camp and kidnapped the stolid Kermit. Constantine and Dominic have a dastardly plan to steal the crown jewels. Constantine's striking likeness makes it easy enough to impersonate Kermit — despite their glaring linguistic differences.

A Kermit lookalike gets the Muppets caught up in a caper as they tour the world.
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According to the evil duo's plan, Kermit is quickly shipped off to the gulag that housed his nefarious look-alike. Once there, strict guard Nadya (Tina Fey) quickly falls for the endearing amphibian.

It can't be easy to act opposite a band of beloved scene-stealers, but Fey, Gervais and Burrell (as Interpol agent Jean Pierre Napoleon) pull it off with aplomb. Burrell has a charmingly outlandish style that blends an Inspector Clouseau quality with a hint of Mr. Bean. Some of the movie's funniest moments are courtesy of Napoleon, who's teamed with a competitive CIA agent, the Muppet Sam Eagle.

Refreshingly wholesome and cleverly campy, it's a family film that should appeal to a wide age range, though not every joke hits its mark.

Director James Bobin deftly balances the talents of the comic actors with the ridiculously lovable Muppet gang. Though not as sweetly nostalgic as 2011's The Muppets, this sequel is wackier. The musical numbers' lyrics are a hoot, and the parade of cameos (from Celine Dion to Usher) is a bonus.

The opening number, We're Doing a Sequel, humorously mocks the concept of this follow-up, with lyrics including "Everybody knows the sequel's never quite as good." That's not exactly the case, though the ongoing will-they-or-won't-they frisson between Kermit and Miss Piggy feels played out.

Inspired by 1960s-era crime capers, the movie also features some inspired casting with character actors such as Danny Trejo and Ray Liotta.

The jokes can be fiendishly funny or absurdly silly, as in the last name of Dominic. It's Badguy, which he insists is French and pronounced "Bad-ghee."

As with the predecessor, the clever new songs are by Bret McKenzie, half of the Flight of the Conchords duo and an original-song Oscar winner for 2011's Man or Muppet. (The other half of the Conchords — Jemaine Clement — is one of the comical Siberian prisoners.)

Following in the tradition of the original Muppet movies, Muppets Most Wanted is a good-humored, star-studded spoof that likely would have met the approval of the gang's late creator, Jim Henson.